Putin seek another term as Russia’s leader

https://nytimes.com/world/europe/putin-president-russia-election

The announcement was long expected after the Constitution was amended in 2020, effectively allowing the Russian leader to stay in power until 2036.

Nikolay Petrov, an analyst with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said, “This is not an election, this is the re-election of the same leader.”

“Mr. Putin is essentially competing with himself — with the younger Putin,” Mr. Petrov added. “It is important for him to show that he is not in a worse place than he was 25 years ago.”

The invasion of Ukraine was perhaps the most consequential decision Mr. Putin had taken for Russia during his 23 years in power. He also ordered an unpopular mobilization campaign last year, in which hundreds of thousands of men were called up to fight in the war.